5 Easy Ways to Create Joy Today!

Joy doesn’t have to be hard to manifest in your life. You can create it with conscious effort and an intention to have more joy in your life.

Joy is a mindset, a way of being. It’s not about what happens to you. Joy is about your internal reactions to events, circumstances, people, and situations. It’s the attitude with which you live your life. When you pay attention and internalize it, joy shows up more and more often and becomes a part of who you are and how you live.

Here are a couple of ways you can begin making joy a part of your life daily: 

• Make a change.
  What things have you always wanted to do or try that make you happy or bring you joy? Whether learning to play the piano or taking a professional cooking class, you can make changes in your life that lead to joy. Avoid the fear that often accompanies change. Joy is usually on the other side of fear. Can you imagine how you’ll feel when you finally take the class you’ve always wanted? The change doesn’t have to be huge. Take small steps toward your dreams, or find a friend to take the class with you. Your happiness depends on you. You can’t expect your life to get better by doing nothing. So, make a change to take you in the direction you want to go.

• Practice gratitude.
  Even in your encore years, when you don’t have an office to go to every day, it’s easy to focus on the day-to-day stress and lose sight of the simple things you’re thankful for. Change your focus to gratitude, and you’ll be amazed at how your life changes. Start by making a list or keeping a journal of all the good things in your life. Many women find it easiest to start or end the day with a Gratitude Journal, recording the five things she’s grateful for daily. Your gratitude list can include ordinary things such as having a home, a bed, or a breakfast every morning. My list always includes my husband and my furry kids. The key is to focus on what makes you feel happy. Starting and keeping a Gratitude Journal will help you find peace and joy every day and will help make joy a way of being for you.

• Make a happy board.
  Like a vision board, a happy board is filled with things that make you happy. For example, if the beach is one of your favorite places, fill your happy board with images of beaches (mountains, snow, or family.) Make it on poster board or design it online. The key is to create a visual representation of things that bring joy to your life. I feel tremendous joy, and my heart swells when I see pictures of sweet animals or beautiful nature settings. Yours will be very personal to you.

• Stop focusing on personal flaws.
  Putting your attention on where you think you’re lacking or on one of your flaws (like a crooked nose) gets in the way of you being able to experience more joy. This applies to both internal and external influences. If people around you are focused on your flaws, it’s probably time to find new friends. If you’re the one paying too much attention to your flaws, it’s time for an attitude adjustment and a change in mindset. Practice love and acceptance each day. Recognize your flaws without focusing on them.

• Forgive yourself.
  When you spend your energy blaming yourself and making yourself feel bad, there’s no space for joy and happiness. It’s time to learn how to forgive, or better yet, to accept your humanness with all the faults and frailties that includes. Let go of any guilt and shame that’s built up in your life. Negative situations come up for everyone. Consciously avoid dwelling on them. Stifle your inner critic for good. View forgiveness as a self-care practice daily.

Joy doesn’t have to be a fleeting moment you feel sometimes.

Let joy be a bigger part of who you are.

Dive into possibilities for your encore by booking a call with me to chart a course towards fulfillment and joy tailored for women 59+. Whether you’re contemplating a career shift, seeking renewed purpose, or curious about untapped potential, this conversation is your opportunity to revise your script. Book your free call today at https://laurahesszoom.com/reviseyourscript and let’s set the stage for the encore you deserve.

I look forward to connecting with you and exploring exciting possibilities.